Pharmacy Dispensing System and Method

ABSTRACT

A system for filling a prescription order for a patient includes a plurality of trays each having an RFID tag for storing a unique identifier corresponding to the prescription order, and a plurality of workstations operatively linked to one another, each workstation having an antenna for detecting the unique identifier in one of the plurality of trays, where the detecting is operative to trigger displaying of a profile of at least one prescription item for the corresponding prescription order.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/313,756, filed Jun. 24, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/839,127, filed Mar. 15, 2013, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/836,284, filed Jul. 14,2010, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/003,186,filed Dec. 3, 2004, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/527,558, filed Dec. 5, 2003, which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to workflow in a pharmacy and, moreparticularly, to quality and process control in a personnel-drivenpharmacy operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pharmacies are an important source of medications and health-relatedproducts for a wide range of people including, for example, retailcustomers, mail-order customers, hospitalized patients and residents ofalternate site (e.g., long term care) facilities. A pharmacy serving theneeds of such people may be located, for example, in a retailenvironment such as a drugstore, or in a location adjunct to thehospital or alternate site facility. A typical pharmacy is staffed by atleast one registered pharmacist and may be further staffed by trainedpharmacy technicians and clerks.

Pharmacy personnel provide a broad range of services and information.For example, the pharmacist typically has overall responsibility forensuring that all 20 prescription orders for medications andhealth-related products are filled properly. The pharmacy techniciansmay assist the pharmacist in filling of the prescription orders and inreplenishment of the medication inventory. Pharmacists and pharmacytechnicians commonly provide other important services such asinteraction with customers, doctors and care givers, a providing ofhealth-related advice, data entry, and a processing of medical andfinancial information associated with a filling of the prescriptionorders. Providing advice and information may include direct interactionwith others, while data processing and order filling typically involveinteraction between the pharmacy personnel and a computer or with themedications and products needed to fill the prescription orders. Forexample, filling of the prescription orders may involve locating one ormore medications or products at a static storage shelf or other storagelocation, dispensing a quantity of the medications or products requiredto fill each prescription in an order, manually packaging themedications in containers (such as bottles and vials), and dispensingthe packaged medications and products to the customer, doctor, or caregiver. As used herein, the term “patient” refers to any person orpersons for whom a prescription order is filled.

It is highly desirable for the pharmacist and pharmacy technician to beavailable for providing value added services, such as by providinghealth-related advice and information to customers, doctors and caregivers. It is also desirable to fill each prescription order at a lowestpossible cost, as explained for example in copending application Ser.No. 10/283,529, herein incorporated by reference. Such cost function maybe defined in terms of many variables, such as the total time requiredto fill each prescription order, the spacial distance traveled by thepharmacy personnel within the pharmacy in order to fill eachprescription order, and the cost to the pharmacy of the medication andproducts used to fill each prescription order. The cost function mayalso be constructed in order to obtain cost reduction throughcoordination of the filling of co-pending prescription orders.

Additional desired characteristics of a pharmacy include a need foraccuracy and the elimination of errors in the filling of prescriptionorders.

Accordingly, there has been a growing use and acceptance of automationin connection with filling of prescription orders by pharmacies. Suchautomation can include the use of computerized information databases forprocessing medical and financial information, the use of automatedapparatus for dispensing medications and Articles, and the use ofmachine-readable code (e.g., bar coding) for purposes of ensuringaccuracy in filling of the prescription orders and in maintaininginventory control. An improvement in pharmacy efficiency results in abetter overall level of service to the customer, doctor or care giver.

Despite benefits resulting from a use of automation in the pharmacyenvironment, there is generally a need for human beings as participantsin the prescription order filling process. Pharmacy personnel arerequired to make many complex decisions and many tasks may be performedmore efficiently in a manual manner. In addition, judgments must bemade, for example, as to the medications and products best suited to thecustomer's needs. It may be necessary to determine the most efficientpath for locating, obtaining, packaging, and dispensing individualcomponents of a prescription order, in a manner that minimizes apotential for error.

It is therefore desirable to implement systems that eliminate risks oferror while improving efficiency. It is also desirable to improvelogistics and quality control in a human-assisted prescription orderfilling process within the pharmacy.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved system andmethod of filling prescription orders overcoming some of the problemsand shortcomings of the prior art, including those referred to above.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method offilling prescription orders providing traceability of individual orderfilling operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automated pharmacysystem having a small footprint.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a system and methodof filling prescription orders that automatically organizes operationsof various pharmacy storage locations by their proximity to areceptacle.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a scalable level ofautomation for a prescription filling operation in a pharmacy.

Another object of the invention is to provide an integrated modularsystem and method of filling prescription orders where partitioning of aprescription order for filling is triggered by a portable receptacle.

How these and other objects are accomplished will become apparent fromthe following descriptions and drawing figures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention, a system for filling aprescription order for a patient includes a plurality of trays eachhaving a radio frequency identification (RPID) tag, a tray programmerstructured for programming a unique identifier into the RFID tag of oneof the plurality of trays, the unique identifier being associated withthe prescription order, and a plurality of workstations operativelylinked to one another, each workstation having an antenna for detectingthe unique identifier, and automatically displaying a profile ofmedication for the prescription order.

According to another aspect of the invention, a system for filling aprescription order for a patient includes a plurality of trays eachhaving an RFID tag for storing a unique identifier corresponding to theprescription order, and a plurality of workstations operatively linkedto one another, each workstation having an antenna for detecting theunique identifier in one of the plurality of trays, where the detectingis operative to trigger displaying a profile of at least oneprescription item for the corresponding prescription order.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a system includes a trayhaving an RFID tag containing a unique identifier, a plurality ofautomated medication dispensing machines each structured for dispensingindividual medication amounts, and a workstation adapted for receivingthe tray and reading the unique identifier, and having a memory forstoring information of a prescription order, where the workstation isstructured so that when the unique identifier read by the workstation isassociated with the prescription order, the workstation accesses theinformation of the prescription order and readies an individualprescription item for dispensing by one of the medication dispensingmachines.

According to a still further aspect of the invention, a method offilling a prescription order includes entering a prescription order,associating the prescription order with an RFID identifier of a tray,detecting the RFID identifier when the tray is placed proximate ahuman-assisted prescription order filling station, and displaying itemsof the prescription order at the human-assisted prescription orderfilling workstation.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method includesproviding a tray having an RFID tag containing a unique identifier,providing a plurality of automated medication dispensing machines eachstructured for dispensing individual medication amounts, and providingat least one workstation adapted for receiving the tray and reading theunique identifier, and adapted for retrieving information of aprescription order, where the workstation is structured so that when theunique identifier read by the workstation is associated with theprescription order, the workstation accesses the information of theprescription order and readies an individual prescription item fordispensing by one of the medication dispensing machines.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method includesproviding a plurality of trays each having an RFID tag for storing aunique identifier corresponding to the prescription order, and providinga plurality of workstations operatively linked to one another, eachworkstation having an antenna for detecting the unique identifier in oneof the plurality of trays, where the detecting is operative to triggerdisplaying a profile of at least one prescription item for thecorresponding prescription order.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method includesproviding a plurality of trays each having an RFID tag, providing a trayprogrammer structured for programming a unique identifier into the RFIDtag of one of the plurality of trays, the unique identifier beingassociated with the prescription order, and providing a plurality ofworkstations operatively linked to one another, each workstation havingan antenna for detecting the unique identifier, and each beingstructured for automatically displaying a profile of medication for theprescription order.

As a result of implementing the invention, paperwork associated withfilling prescription orders is reduced or eliminated. Workflow is fullyadaptable to a technician's choice of which workstation of a pluralityof workstations she wishes to proceed to next, thereby providingadaptation to changing circumstances such as a temporary bottleneck at agiven location. A scalable pharmacy design is accommodated forimplementing automation and high levels of quality assurance whilemaintaining a human-assisted control of pharmacy operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a highly schematic view of a prescription order fulfillmentsystem according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a highly schematic view of a workstation that may be used inthe system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a highly schematic view of a computer network used in anexemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a multiple workstation systemapplication of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a display screen showing information regarding multipleindividual prescription items of a prescription order being filledaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a display screen showing information regarding an individualprescription item being manually filled from a predetermined shelflocation according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 7A-B show a flowchart for describing a method according to an 10exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8A shows a three-dimensional view of a tray, and FIG. 8B shows atop view of the tray of FIG. 8A, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 9 shows a checksheet that may be printed and/or displayed for allor part of a prescription order, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-2 show a prescription order fulfillment system 1 according to anexemplary embodiment of the invention. A workstation 10 obtains orderentry information from an order entry location 50. The structure andorientation of order entry location 50 may vary and may comprise anynumber of alternate sources of prescription information. For example,the order entry location 50 may be at a same location as the workstation10, so that a process of order filling may be performed at the same siteas a process of obtaining the prescription order. Accordingly, an orderentry technician may also perform the duties of a pharmacy technician,or work from the same workstation.

Another example of an order entry location 50 is a dedicated computerterminal at which an order entry technician receives a paperprescription from a patient, nurse, etc. The paper prescription containsinformation regarding individual prescription items of the prescriptionorder. The order entry technician enters the prescription orderinformation and related information, such as that regarding insurance,method of payment, etc. An adjudication of the prescription order may beperformed at the order entry location 50 in cooperation with a pharmacyinformation system (PIS). A properly adjudicated prescription order isthen released by the PIS to a database, such as a database cooperatingwith a central computer. Queuing and associated functions of orderfilling may be implemented using such a system. Additional control maybe provided by designating particular workstations for receipt ofprescription order information from the database.

Another variation of an order entry configuration includes an interfacebetween the workstation 10 and a telephone network (not shown), so thata nurse at a doctor's office, a doctor, or a patient is able to phone inher prescription order via a known automated system.

A given workstation 10 has a computer 11 with a number of standard inputand/or output devices including a keyboard 12, a mouse 13, and a display14. The display 14 may be either a touchscreen or non-touchscreen type.In addition, the workstation 10 includes an RFID reader 15 for reading aunique identifier in an RFID tag 81 located in a tray 80 (see, e.g.,FIGS. 8A-B). RFID reader 15 is able to read and/or write data from/toRFID tag 81 without contacting RFID tag 81.

By placing the RFID tag 81 within tray 80, RFID tag 81 is resistant todamage from dirt, water, abrasion, chemicals, reflected lights, etc. Thesize of the RFID tag 81 may be very small and have a thin shape sinceRFID tag 81 does not require a battery. For example, electric power maybe transmitted by electromagnetic induction from a flat read/writeantenna element in RPID reader 15 to RFID tag 81. RFID tag 81 may be aninductive, capacitive, or other RPID type, and the cost of RFID tag 81is preferably minimized since the requirements for RFID tag 81 may beminimal compared with some RFID applications. For example, an RFID taggenerally contains integrated non-volatile memory that allows data to bewritten to and read from individual tags, but a system and method of theinvention does not require user programming of RFID tag 81, and RFID tag81 may be factory programmed with a unique identification number so thatthe tray 80 may be uniquely identified. Therefore, the RFID reader 15need not program RFID tag 81, and RFID tag 81 need not bereprogrammable. RFID tag 81 has a memory of 44 bytes, 96 bytes, 128bytes, or other similar size, being large enough to provide trillions ofpossible unique identifiers. Accordingly, if desired for a particularapplication, trays 80 may be recycled by reprogramming that always usesa new unique identifier. For example, security reasons and accountingsoftware may dictate that a new number be assigned for each newprescription order.

RFID reader 15 preferably has a flat upper surface adapted for securelyholding a tray 80 while a prescription order is being filled. The faceof the read antenna of RFID reader 15 is preferably disposed in parallelwith such upper surface, and the face of the antenna of RFID tag 81 isalso disposed in parallel with the upper surface when tray 80 is placedon RFID reader 15. The communication range for reading an RFID tag 81 isdesigned to prevent detection of the RFID tag 81 at any time other thanwhen tray 80 is in the reading position on RFID reader 15. Bycontrolling the communication range, premature or unintended detectionsare prevented. Suitable read/write antenna elements and RFID tags 81 areavailable from Omron. A system 1 may include such a controller forinterfacing computer 11 with the antenna of RFID reader 15. Such acontroller is also available from Omron.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary computer network 60 used for implementing asystem according to the invention. Various workstations 10, 30, andcentral computer 55 may be configured respectively as clients and serverin a known manner. For example, workstations 10, 30 may obtainprescription information as clients connected to central server computer55. A small workgroup network (e.g., Ethernet) having standard cablingbetween computers may be used. Any suitable computer networking system56 such as a LAN or WAN may be implemented for exchanging prescriptionorder and other related information such as insurance, billing,inventory, etc. between computers (e.g., including a use of the PIS).Various devices such as printers, automated dispensing machines, barcodereaders, order entry terminals, checkout registers, telephone networks,other local or wide area networks, and other equipment may also be apart of computer network 60. In a simple form, one or more trays 80indicate a patient's prescription order, so that a workstation 10, 30reading the RFID information of a tray 80 only needs to associate theRFID information with the prescription order by accessing the databaseof the central computer 55.

An exemplary multiple workstation pharmacy 2 is shown in FIG. 4. Apharmacy or other prescription fulfillment center may have a trayprogrammer 25 that communicates with central computer 55 and/or aworkstation 10, 30 for initiating the filling process for a prescriptionorder. Tray programmer 25 may include a tray feed station 21, a conveyortransport mechanism 23, an RFID programmer 20, and an output station 22.An exemplary tray feed station is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat.No. 6,370,841 granted to Chudy, et al., herein incorporated byreference. Tray programmer 25 adds RFID programmer 20 along withassociated control systems.

When the filling of a prescription order is initiated, the prescriptionorder is associated with a unique identifier and the identifier isprogrammed by the tray programmer 25 into RFID tag 81 in a tray 80. Forexample, central computer 55 assigns unique numbers and then programsthe trays 80, or tray programmer 25 reads a pre-programmed uniqueidentifier of a tray 80 being fed to output station 22 and centralcomputer 55 associates this read number with a prescription order beinginitiated. An order filler such as a pharmacy technician retrieves theassociated tray 80 from output station 22 and carries the tray 80 to afirst workstation 10.

Workstations 10, 30 may be used at intervals in a pharmacy asorder-filling stations, the intervals being designed so that work flowachieves a desired goal such as efficiency, optimum use of floorspace,maximum throughput, adapting to a particular configuration of storagelocations, etc. For example, workstation 10 is located proximate tabletdispensing station 26 and ampule dispensing station 27. When thetechnician places tray 80 on RFID reader 15, individual items of theassociated prescription order are displayed on touchscreen 14 ofworkstation 10. The prescription items in the area proximate workstation10 may be highlighted on display screen 61 of touchscreen 14. Thetechnician may press a graphical user interface (GUI) icon ontouchscreen 14, which activates the corresponding automated dispenser26, 27, or other, causing the dispenser 26, 27, or other to proceed tofill the selected prescription item. A selection of a particular item ofthe prescription order activates a display of an image 318 of theindividual prescription item. When tray 80 is placed on RFID reader 15,the display screen 61 may include images 318 for any and/or all of theindividual prescription items of a prescription order. In addition,pressing a Gill icon 62 may place information regarding filling therespective prescription item into a queue.

The '529 application cited above details a WorkPath™ software that maybe adapted for use with the present system 1, 2, such as in aclient-server architecture. Workstations 10, 30 may include a labelprinter 17 (e.g., FIG. 2) that automatically prints a label, whenrequired, for a prescription item being filled, the particular automateddispensing machine 19 may have its own intemallabel printer (not shown),the prescription item may have its label already attached, or theparticular label may be printed at a stand-alone printer (not shown) forattachment to the prescription item at a separate location. In addition,WorkPath has a checksheet function, whereby a checksheet 269 (FIG. 9)may be displayed and/or printed for all or part of a prescription order.The checksheet 269 may include displaying images 318 for any or all ofthe listed prescription items 307, and may include the name 301 of apatient, a prescription number 309, a quantity 316, special instructions273, barcode(s) 271, descriptive text information 311, storage locationinformation 313, storage location icon 315, and other information.

When all the prescription items for the prescription order to be filledby tablet dispensing station 26 and by ampule dispensing station 27 havebeen processed, the technician picks up tray 80, proceeds to workstation30, and places tray 80 onto RFID reader 15 of workstation 30. Uponplacing tray 80 onto RFID reader 15, the prescription items to be filledfrom storage locations proximate workstation 30 are displayed ontouchscreen 14 of workstation 30. In this example, workstation 30 isproximate automatic unit-of-use article dispenser 28 and storage shelves41. When the technician presses a Gill icon 62 corresponding to aprescription item to be filled from unit-of-use dispenser 28, theprescription item is automatically filled. When the prescription itemselected by the technician is located on a storage shelf 41, thetouchscreen display screen 201 indicates the exact shelf location wherea quantity of the respective prescription item may be found, as shown inFIG. 6. The technician may activate a printing of a corresponding labelfor the prescription item by touching a separate icon on the touchscreen14, or the workstation 30 may automatically print such label when thecorresponding prescription item is selected on the touchscreen 14.

When a given prescription order has been filled, the technician placesthe filled tray 80 onto a nurse's cart, onto a will-call shelf location,or in an other filled prescription area. Alternatively, the technicianmay place tray 80 onto an intermediate shelf (not shown), such as whenshe has partially filled a prescription order and desires to take alunch break and fill the remainder of the prescription order at a latertime. The intermediate shelf may also be used when a particularprescription item of a prescription order is back-ordered and theprescription order remains incomplete. Similarly, since the tray 80automatically activates a display of the individual items in aprescription order whenever the tray 80 is placed onto an RFID reader15, the technician may fill the order in any manner she deemsappropriate, such as by first proceeding to a remote workstation if anearby workstation is busy. The sequence of filling is independent ofthe movement of tray 80 so that, for example, in an emergency, apartially-filled tray 80 may be placed aside while the emergency (e.g.,STAT) prescription order is being filled. When tray 80 resumes theprocess of being filled, a placement of tray 80 onto an RFID reader 15at a workstation displays any remaining unfilled prescription items ofthe order.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary touchscreen display 61 having a list 67, 68 ofprescription items to be filled at a given workstation. In this example,the display screen 61 contains Gill icon 62 representing a storagelocation that is in an automated dispensing machine. A manual type Gillicon 63 represents that the respective prescription item is at aparticular shelf location. When the technician presses her finger onGill icon 63, a label is automatically printed for the prescription itemand, as shown in FIG. 6, screen display 201 is provided with a popup box301 requesting that the technician scan verify the filled prescriptionitem by scanning the label with a barcode reader 18 and by visuallycomparing the displayed image 318 of a representative pill with thecontents of the filled vial.

Any number of automated medication dispensing machines may be used inconjunction with a workstation 10, 30, including but not limited todispensers of oral solids, units-of-use, injectables, IVs, ampules,vials, syringes, etc. The form of an automated dispensing machine mayinclude a vending, cassette, vibration feed, roll packetizing, robotic,conveyor feed, automated line filling, and/or other type of automatedmachine. Shelving and machines may be semi-automated, such as by using acarousel or similar rotating storage and retrieval structure whereaccess to a prescription item storage location is simplified and/orstorage capacity is increased. Individual workstations 10, 30communicate with the various devices to send them commands or receivestatus, such as by a hard-wired serial interface. Any suitable interfacebetween workstations 10, 30 and automated dispensing machines may beused, including wireless, RS 232/485, USB, etc. Programs in workstations10, 30 update a central database on central computer 55 (e.g., server).The database is accessed by all client computers and the server tocommunicate progress of the prescription order from entry to checkingand filling. In addition, a wireless handheld computer (not shown) maybe used for tracking replenishment of storage locations, for locatingstock in the drawers and shelves, etc. The information exchanged withautomated dispensing machines may differ according to a number ofprocesses being performed by the particular machine. At a minimum, theserial information transmitted to automated dispensing machines includesthe location of the particular medication and the quantity. Additionalserial communication information between a workstation 10, 30 and anautomated dispensing machine 19 may be required for implementingprocesses such as label printing, sequencing of roll packetizing,refrigeration of compartments in a dispenser, etc.

In addition, a tote transfer conveyor system (not shown) may be used toaccommodate a particular site's requirements. In such a system, a numberof conveyors may be placed end-to-end to move trays/totes from onestation to another. Such a system may include corner conveyors thatfacilitate a change in direction (e.g., ninety degree turn in totedirection), straight conveyors, conveyor tote elevator(s) that change aposition of a given tote from a floor level conveyor for automatedmachine dispensing to a raised level for manual pick and fillingoperations. Such a system may also include a conveyor queue tower thatreceives totes/trays, for example, from the conveyor tote elevator andretains them for a subsequent checking or bagging process, or forqueuing during a sequenced or similar order filling process. An exampleof such a system is the AUTOFILL system, available from AutoMedTechnologies, Inc., of Vernon Hills, Ill.

It is noted that a large prescription order may be assigned to more thanone tray 80. In such a case, each tray 80 may be assigned to specificitems of the prescription order. A multiple position RFID reader (notshown) may be used at a final quality control station for determiningwhether all of the individual prescription items for the prescriptionorder are present in the multiple trays 80. Different colored trays 80may be used, for example to differentiate a STAT order, an order for aparticular nursing cart, an order for a particular destination, etc.Workstation 10, 30 may include a printer 17 adapted for printing achecksheet along with labels for identifying the Particular patientcorresponding to the prescription order. Such a checksheet and labelsmay be placed in the tray 80, and may be in the form of a printed baginto which all or some of the individual prescription items of an ordermay be placed. In addition, workstations 10, 30 may be used at any timeby a pharmacy technician, nurse, doctor, pharmacist, etc. for checking afilled tray for accuracy, for example, prior to releasing theprescription order to a patient, nursing cart, etc.

An exemplary prescription order filling process is now described withreference to FIGS. 7A-B. At step 100, a prescription order is input to acomputer. For example, a patient takes her prescription to a pharmacyand hands the prescription to a pharmacy technician and the techniciantypes the individual prescription information 10 on a computer keyboard.The prescription information becomes an order entry in a database (e.g.,PIS) that is in communication with an order entry computer, eitherlocally or at a remote location. The order entry may be obtained by thedatabase in a variety of ways. For example, a group of one or moreindividual prescription orders may be transferred between locationsusing intranets, internets, the Internet, etc.

At step 105 the order entry is checked for accuracy, such as by theorder entry technician or by the pharmacy technician who retrieves theorder. Many methods may be concurrently implemented for checking orderaccuracy, including but not limited to use of charts such as computeralgorithms that match a profile of the patient with a dosage, type ofmedication, quantity, interaction information, etc., algorithms thatperform spell checking or similar evaluation of entered text, etc. Instep 107, when it is determined that order entry has been performedcorrectly, the prescription order may be forwarded to a database forsubsequent retrieval and processing. If it is determined that the orderhas been incorrectly entered, the order is kicked back to an order entrystation for re-entry or correction. An example of step 107 is a spellchecker.

When a prescription order is retrieved by a pharmacy technician at step110, she validates the prescription order, for example, by telephoningthe doctor's office indicated on the prescription slip, by accessingvalidation information from a central computer such as by retrieving apatient's date of birth, mother's maiden name, or other personalinformation. Adjudication and validation of the prescription order mayinclude a use of a PIS, and may include a combination of automated andmanual processes, including obtaining a release of the prescriptionorder from a PIS, placing prescription order information in a queue,etc. The technician may ask the patient to validate/verify such personalinformation or provide health insurance information. At step 113, whenit is determined that the prescription order has been validated, thetechnician proceeds to fill the order. If the prescription order is notable to be validated, the technician may put the prescription order onhold pending receipt of the validation, or may cancel the order forprocessing until the order is able to be validated. The processes oforder entry, order retrieval, and validation may be combined or keptseparate depending on a particular application.

At step 115, the technician matches a chosen validated prescriptionorder to a tray. She may activate a tray programmer or assigner to dosuch matching, for example by assigning a unique identifier contained inan RFID tag located in the tray to the chosen prescription order. Theunique identifier may be programmed into the RFID tag at the time thetechnician selects the particular prescription order for fulfillment, byactivating a programmer to enter a new unique identifier into a tray.Such a tray programmer may automatically dispense the tray to a separatelocation for order filling, or the tray programmer may be proximate thetechnician's workstation. Alternatively, the pharmacy technician mayfirst retrieve a prescription order, then pick up a new tray from astack, place the tray onto an RFID reader, and assign a uniqueidentifier that is preloaded in the tray to the prescription order onher display screen.

At step 120, the technician picks up the tray and proceeds to aprescription filling workstation 10 at step 125. Workstation 10 may beconnected to automated dispensing machines, it may be a workstation in apharmacy location proximate shelves and other storage locations, orworkstation 10 may be intended to service both a manual filling ofprescription items from shelves as well as automatically fillingprescription items by use of automated dispensers. At step 130, thetechnician places the tray onto a tray reader located at the chosenworkstation. The tray reader detects the unique identifier in the RFIDtag and presents information concerning this unique identifier to aretrieve_order routine running on the workstation. The retrieve_orderroutine formats this information into a request for order information.The request for order information is then presented to the databasemanager for retrieving the stored order information from the database.The request for order information may be included in a data stream overa network, either via a locally managed operating system or via anengine cooperating with a standard system configuration such as UNIX.The database may in fact reside locally in the workstation, as a resultof the workstation being connected with the order entry device, by theworkstation previously receiving a batch of orders, and by othermethods. The request for order information may alternatively betransmitted via a wireless communication path, processed in a batchmanner, or may be communicated by any suitable process and structure toa database manager.

At step 135, the workstation receives the requested order informationfrom the database manager and processes the order information fordisplaying the information to the technician on a display deviceconnected to the workstation. FIG. 5 shows an exemplary order screendisplay 61. At step 140, the technician views the displayed order screen61 and determines which individual prescription items she wants to fillnext. The technician may, at step 145, select order items and mayinitiate processes by, for example, pressing her finger against agraphical user interface (GUI) symbol located on a touchscreen display,by positioning a pointer on a screen symbol and then click-selecting thescreen symbol, by entering keystrokes on a keyboard, by voiceactivation, etc. The GUI symbol may represent a location where anindividual prescription item is located. For example, the Gill mayrepresent an automatic unit-of-use dispensing machine, an automatic oralsolids dispensing machine, an automatic ampule dispensing machine, anautomated medication packetizing machine, a storage shelf location, orany other location for the particular selected individual prescriptionitem.

At step 150, the technician determines whether the selected prescriptionis located at a storage location requiring manual retrieval or at anautomated storage location. When the selected prescription item is at ashelf location requiring manual retrieval, the display at step 155indicates the shelf number and shelf location of the item so that thetechnician may proceed directly to the item in step 160. Preferably, theshelves are located in an area where the desired medication may beeasily obtained from a bulk container, counted, and packaged whilereducing the risk of spillage or other mishap. The shelved prescriptionitem may alternatively be pre-packaged in convenient quantities such asin quantities favored by doctors when writing the prescription orders.When the selected prescription item is located at an automated location,the workstation at step 165 communicates information regarding theprescription item to the automated dispensing machine for subsequentautomated filling of the prescription item. The workstation translatesinformation concerning the desired item into machine language forcommunication to the given automated dispensing machine. The automateddispensing machine receives the machine code and dispenses theprescription item, either directly into the tray or to a convenientlocation for retrieval by the technician.

At step 170, a label is printed for the prescription item. The automateddispensing machine may have a self-contained label printer structuredfor formatting information concerning a prescription item being filledand then printing such information on a label to be affixed to a vial orother container for holding the medication or related prescription item.The automated dispensing machine may apply the label to the vialautomatically, may separately dispense the label, may communicate printmachine code to an external printer, etc. A label for the selectedprescription may be separately printed by the technician selecting alabel print routine at the workstation. The label print routine may beintegrated into a workstation algorithm, for example, associated with aselection of a next item. The printed label may be manually orautomatically placed onto a container, such as a vial. It may bedesirable to add redundancy to quality assurance procedures such as bypreventing the selection, filling, or label printing of a subsequentprescription item until a label has been removed from a printer, until alabel has been attached to a vial, scanned by a barcode reader, andverified, until a handshaking signal is received from an automateddispensing machine, etc.

The label information may include a text description of the prescriptionitem, the quantity information, a barcode, an address and phone numberof the pharmacy, doctor information, patient information, a graphicshowing the particular tablet, capsule, or other form of the particularmedication, etc. The label information may be displayed on the displaydevice of the workstation so that the technician may verify that theprescription item on the screen matches an actual filled item in herhand or in the tray. Alternatively, the technician may pass the affixedlabel across a barcode reader connected to the workstation. The barcodeinformation thereby obtained is then automatically compared with theitems of the particular prescription order to verify that theinformation matches a previously selected item. When the technician issatisfied that the selected prescription item has been filled correctly,she places the filled prescription item into the tray at step 180.

At step 185, it is determined whether the filled prescription item isthe last item of the prescription order to be filled at the presentworkstation. If not, the technician proceeds to step 145 and repeats theorder filling process by selecting a next prescription item on theworkstation display. If the just-filled prescription item is the lastprescription item to be filled at the present workstation, the screenmay indicate a next workstation or other location for subsequentplacement of the tray containing filled prescription items. The displaymay indicate a next workstation based on efficiency and reduction ofcost, proximity, availability, etc. determined by an efficiency routinein software. At step 190, the technician carries the tray to anotherworkstation and places the tray onto the RFID reader of the newworkstation, whereupon the reader detects the unique identifier of theRFID tag of the tray and displays a list of prescription items to befilled at that workstation. Subsequently, the technician performsfilling of additional prescription items at the new workstation, in amanner as just described beginning at step 125.

As noted above, a person desiring to perform additional quality controlor checking of the contents of a tray 80 may pick up the tray 80 andplace it on an RFID reader 15 of a given workstation 10, 30. A systemmay include a separate workstation dedicated to checking andverification of prescription orders, for example prior to packing andshipping, at a nursing station, etc. When the person places the tray 80onto the RFID reader 15, a list of the individual prescription items ofa prescription order are displayed. The person may then visually inspectthe items in the tray 80, may scan barcodes on labels of the items, maymatch a displayed image of a particular medication with a filled order,etc. After verifying the items for a prescription order, the person mayproceed to a subsequent process such as forwarding the prescriptionorder to a patient or healthcare facility, receiving payment for theorder, communicating verification information with a PIS, etc.

Many variations in a workflow method are envisaged and it is intendedthat the invention be adaptable for order filling that includes any typeof computer network and any type of computer, such as computersintegrated with other aspects of a pharmacy, including those responsiveto relative movements of a technician. In addition, the invention mayincorporate additional writing of information to RFID tags and othermedia for effecting additional control of prescription order processing.For example, a system may be structured for using an RFID antenna tostore updated filling information in an RFID tag 81.

While the principles of the invention have been shown and described inconnection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that suchembodiments are by way of example and are not limiting.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for filling a prescription order for apatient comprising: a tray including a unique identifier associated witha prescription order of a patient; a filling workstation including adisplay screen; and a reader communicatively coupled to the fillingworkstation configured to read the unique identifier of the tray whenthe tray is located at the filling workstation; wherein the fillingworkstation is configured to display information related to theprescription order to be filled at the filling workstation on thedisplay screen as a result of the reader reading the unique identifier.2. The system of claim 1 wherein the prescription order consists of afirst subset and a second subset, and wherein the unique identifier isassociated with the first subset of the prescription order, the systemfurther comprising: a second tray including a second unique identifierassociated with the second subset of the prescription order.
 3. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein the unique identifier is an RFID tag, and thereader includes an antenna configured to receive a signal from the RFIDtag.
 4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a tray programmerconfigured to program the RFID tag with the unique identifier.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein the prescription order includes at least twounfilled individual prescription items, and further wherein the fillingworkstation is configured to highlight on the display at least one ofthe unfilled individual prescription items as a result of the at leastone of the unfilled individual prescription items being stored in anarea proximate the filling workstation.
 6. The system of claim 1 whereinthe information related to the prescription order includes an image ofan individual prescription item.
 7. The system of claim 6 wherein theinformation related to the prescription order includes text informationidentifying the patient, text information identifying the individualprescription item, and the image of the individual prescription item. 8.The system of claim 1 wherein the information related to theprescription order includes information identifying a storage locationof an individual prescription item.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein theinformation identifying the storage location is an indication of shelflocation where the individual prescription item is stored.
 10. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein the filling workstation is configured todisplay information related to multiple unfilled individual prescriptionitems of the prescription order on the display screen in response to thereader reading the unique identifier.
 11. The system of claim 1 whereinthe prescription order includes at least two unfilled individualprescription items, and further wherein the filling workstation isconfigured to order the display of information for the unfilledindividual prescription items to minimize a cost function associatedwith filling the prescription order.
 12. The system of claim 1 whereinthe prescription order includes at least two unfilled individualprescription items, and further wherein the filling workstation isconfigured to order the display of information for the unfilledindividual prescription items to minimize a distance traveled bypharmacy personnel to fill the prescription order.
 13. The system ofclaim 1 further comprising an automated dispenser, wherein the fillingworkstation is configured to trigger dispensing by the automateddispenser as a result of the reader reading the unique identifier.
 14. Asystem for filling a prescription order for a patient, comprising: atray having an RFID tag; a tray programmer to program a uniqueidentifier into the RFID tag of the tray, wherein the unique identifieris associated with a prescription order; and a workstation thatcomprises: a display, and a reader coupled to the display for detectingthe unique identifier, wherein, as a result of detecting the uniqueidentifier, the display presents a profile information corresponding toat least one individual prescription item to be filled for theprescription order while the tray is located at the workstation.
 15. Thesystem of claim 14 wherein the profile information includes textualinformation representing at least one of: an individual prescriptionitem of the prescription order, and a respective storage location forthe individual prescription item.
 16. The system of claim 14 wherein theprofile information includes an image representing the individualprescription item.
 17. The system of claim 14 wherein the profileinformation includes a graphical user interface symbol representing arespective storage location for the individual prescription item.
 18. Asystem for filling a prescription medication order, comprising: aprescription medication order that consists of a first subset and asecond subset; a plurality of trays that include a respective pluralityof unique machine-readable tray identifiers, the plurality of traysincluding a first tray with a first tray identifier associated with thefirst subset of the prescription medication order and a second tray witha second tray identifier associated with the second subset of theprescription medication order; a database which includes prescriptiondata representative of at least one prescription item, datarepresentative of the at least one of the plurality of tray identifiers,and data which associates the first tray identifier with theprescription data; and a workstation in communication with the database,and including a display screen and a tray identifier reader configuredto read the plurality of tray identifiers.
 19. The system of claim 18wherein the prescription data includes data representative of a patientname.
 20. The system of claim 18 wherein the prescription data includesdata representative of a prescription order.